Cockney Rhyming Slang

Apples and pears, Barnet Fair, and London's secret code

简介

伦敦押韵俚语（Cockney rhyming slang）是英式英语最独特的特征之一——一种诞生于伦敦东区的语言传统，通过有趣的押韵替换来改变普通的词。"Stairs（楼梯）"变成了"apples and pears（苹果和梨）"，"wife（妻子）"变成了"trouble and strife（麻烦和纷争）"。

这种俚语最初出现在19世纪，可能是作为排除外人的暗号。如今它已经超越了伦敦东区工人阶级的出身，成为英国文化中广受喜爱的一部分。有些词已经太常用了，人们用的时候根本不知道它们来自伦敦押韵俚语。

这一章既探索所有英国人都认识的经典押韵俚语，也挖掘只有真正的伦敦东区人才懂的冷门说法。来学学怎么像正宗的伦敦人一样说话吧——至少能听懂他们在说啥。

主题

本章全部英语俚语（88）

• Porkies Lies.
• Apples and pears Stairs.
• Dog and bone Phone (telephone).
• Adam and Eve Believe.
• Butcher's Look.
• Ruby Curry.
• Brahms Drunk (pissed).
• Bees and honey Money.
• Sherbert Taxi (cab).
• Rabbit Talk.
• Rosie Lee Tea.
• Septic Yank (American).
• Titfer Hat.
• North and south Mouth.
• Boat race Face.
• Brown bread Dead.
• Currant bun Sun; also The Sun newspaper.
• Plates of meat Feet.
• Mince pies Eyes.
• Loaf Head.
• Hampsteads Teeth.
• Bacon and eggs Legs.
• Germans Hands.
• Scotch Legs.
• Brass tacks Facts (also used idiomatically).
• Raspberry Fart; also a rude noise.
• Bottle Arse; also courage.
• Khyber Arse.
• Bristols Breasts.
• Barnets Hairs (plural/different usage from Barnet).
• Gregory Neck.
• Chalk Farms Arms.
• Linen Newspaper (paper).
• Todd Own (alone).
• Dickie bird Word.
• Taters Cold.
• Bread Money.
• Lady Godiva Fiver (five pounds).
• Cock and hen Ten (pounds).
• Ayrton Tenner (ten pounds).
• Score Twenty pounds.
• Pony Twenty-five pounds.
• Monkey Five hundred pounds.
• Nicker One pound.
• Tanner Sixpence (old pre-decimal coin).
• Archer Two thousand pounds.
• Deep sea diver Fiver (five pounds).
• Steve McQueen Unseen; also screen.
• Oxford Dollar (or five shillings historically).
• Sausage and mash Cash.
• Speckled hen Ten (pounds).
• Macaroni Pony (£25); also money generally.
• Trouble and strife Wife.
• China Mate (friend).
• Dustbin lid Kid (child).
• Pot and pan Old man (father or husband).
• Skin and blister Sister.
• Plates and dishes Missus (wife).
• God forbids Kids (children).
• Bricks and mortar Daughter.
• Teapot lid Kid (child); also Yid (Jewish person).
• One and t'other Mother.
• Fisherman's daughter Water.
• Ginger Queer (gay); also engineer.
• Carving knife Wife.
• Frog and toad Road.
• Daisies Boots.
• Jack Jones Alone (on one's own).
• Old pot Old man (father).
• Artful dodger Lodger.
• Gammon Nonsense; also racist/sexist person (modern).
• Have a gander Have a look.
• Tom and Dick Sick.
• Barney Trouble; argument.
• Cream crackered Knackered (exhausted).
• Weasel Coat.
• Bubble Greek (person).
• Pen and ink Stink.
• Aris Arse (backside).
• Cobblers Nonsense; also testicles.
• Large it Show off; party hard; be excessive.
• Danny Clue.
• Pete Tong Wrong.
• Sweeney Flying Squad (police).
• Nelson Ready.
• Elephants Drunk.
• Merchant Wanker (idiot).
• Jimmy Riddle Piddle (urinate).